As the majority of Americans celebrate the Labor Day weekend with an extra day off, BNPD is working around the clock to ensure residents are driving safely. Throughout September, officers will be emphasizing DUI, DWI, seat belt use, and other traffic violations as part of the Don’t Leave Your Life on the Road initiative. The campaign coincides with nationwide efforts, including Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over and the recently introduced If You Feel Different, You Drive Different; Drive High Get a DUI message presented by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Citizens should expect to see increased enforcement on the roads and zero tolerance for impaired driving and seatbelt and speeding violations, according to Captain Kevin Russell.
“This is a re-emphasis of the work we strive to do daily, and it’s not done out of a spirit of ‘gotcha;’ instead, it’s a way for the department to further protect the residents of Benton.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2016, more than one million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. 10, 497 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for 28 percent of all traffic-related deaths in the U.S., and drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) were involved in about 16 percent of motor vehicle crashes.
“With thousands of fatalities still occurring every year due to negligent behavior, we will continue to heavily patrol the city and will accept absolutely no excuses,” said Russell. “These are lives at stake- mothers, father, sisters, brothers- and we want to do everything we can to ensure their safety.”
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov or www.cdc.org.